Throw Away Your Drum Throne
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- čas přidán 7. 01. 2021
- Or sell it..
What piece of your kit is the most important? Can upgrading this one piece of gear really make you a better player instantly?? Yes. Yes it can.
I wish drum companies would make this. Perhaps they've been doing things the same way for so long, they're afraid or unwilling to change.
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Changed my life.
Thank you for sharing this!
I have to agree. I stole a four legged stool from my guitar player and it is just the right height. I noticed right away. He asked for it back, been able to put it off for three years now, but alas I will have to return it. I actually like the guy, despite him being a guitar player.
If he liked you, he would let you keep the stool.
What do you call a drummer who refuses to play a particular song? Answer: an impossible jerk who is making the band all about him.
What do you call a guitar player who picks ALL the songs, will not consider any song he doesn't already know & love, and is always complaining and threatening to quit? Answer: a guitar player.
@@RandySeverino I know he mentioned 4 legs, but to be honest it was more about the stability of the design of a 4 leg stool than the 4 legs alone. The stool is solid all the way to the seat, the standard drum throne is not. If you can find a 3 legged Stool you would have the best of both worlds. A solid seat and no worries of an uneven floor
He owns it to you for being a guitar player.
LOL
I solved this years ago by performing lying down
Roc-n-Soc Nitro is the only way to go! (Fine, not the ONLY way, but a damn GOOD way!)
Yea I’ve had mine for 13 years and it’s still just as solid as when I got it. I prefer a tiny bit of bounce, but not wobble, and the nitro is very predictable. I also have the fixed roc n Soc but it’s not the same
Just got mine. Best I’ve had.
If you aren't moving it around... go with the Lunar, more solid and doesn't tip over. The downside is it does NOT BREAK DOWN! for a studio, it's great though! I keep a Lunar for home and Nitro for gigging. Also the optional back support is worth it IMO. No way in hell I would play on a bar stool or anything that isn't hydraulic/pneumatic... my back would be destroyed!
My wife bought me a Roc-N-Soc that has five feet and the hydraulic lift about ten years ago. It's amazing!
I sit very low, 14 inches to be exact and I bought what is known as a pedicure stool. 5 legs with casters, swivel, gas lift and a back. Dayton was the manufacturer. Best thing I ever did.
I use a folding chair as my drum throne. I feel personally attacked.
😂. I play at an open mic night and sit on the window ledge of the pub and I've also sat on chairs to play. It's not perfect but i make it work.
I have done the same my friend. I wish all musicians would boycott open mike nights and force the bar owners to pay bands. I got my chops during the seventies playing 6 nights a week for a minimum of 100 bucks a night. Those were the glory days I know. But I refuse to get on stage and play for nothing. Luckily I found a church gig that allows me to play twice a week. Don’t get me wrong. I know how great it feels to be up on stage and I’m sure that’s why you do it. Peace brother, and keep rocking in the free world!
@@boblatzer does the church pay you to play for the Lord?
My gripe about his advice is that a 3 foot stool will self level on uneven surfaces, whereas a 4 foot stool will not, creating a wobble.
However, I do agree that your seat is one of the most important pieces of kit.
More so than the amount of feet, my gripe is with the seemingly universal design flaw of the central posts. Not sure why they're all that way but there's just no way to limit motion and sway especially for high-sitters like me.
@@BenReigel I don't sit too high, so I don't encounter that problem, but it is an inherent weakness in the design. Sounds like there might be a market for a new design that works for high-sitters, though!
I just want to say that i've played for 34 years in all kinds of bars with crappy plywood stages with 3 and 4 foot thrones and the 4 ones never wobbled. My experience is that 4 is more stable than 3.
I have the opposite of a gripe. I'm a bad drummer and I'm always looking for new excuses for why I suck. Now I get to add a single post throne to my ever-growing list.
I've played on both 4 and 3 legged thrones and the 3 legged one is way better. Hell try and play on an office chair with wheels on it.
I was gifted a roc n soc. No wobble, adjustable height. I've had it for 15 years
A 3 legged stool with 4 posts supporting a seat would be a dream come true.
Is it me, or is the bell on that ride. HUUUUUUUUUGE?!?!
I used to use a armrest free office chair. I removed the wheels. It was very comfortable. And light weight. It blew out of the back of my truck.
One time I played a show and the house kit I had to play on had an office chair for a thrown. Except mine had wheels. There's footage of me rolling off the riser mid song somewhere
@@JohnMatlosz classic house drum kit clownery
I have a great DW drum throne with 4 legs, solid as a rock, back rest, lots of cousin for the 90 minute sets and it folds up for transportation. I'm glad you found a solution but there are a ton of great thrones on the market, you just can't go cheap.
I love DW hardware and see your point about cheap gear for sure. I paid around $200 for my 5000 series throne but that central post still makes it wobble on me! This is probably more of an issue for people who sit on the high side. I imagine if someone sits low almost any throne is stable.
@@BenReigel roc n soc, zero wobble! and I know wobble, I have really bad back issues and if I wobble the tiniest bit it causes me pain.
@@NEALBABBITT agreed. I have two of them. Solid. Both bicycle seats with hydraulic for adjusting. If it had memory points one could dial in it would be perfect. Drum on.
Same here. Besides the 4 legs, I bought it because it could spin WITHOUT effecting the height. The spinning action was independent of the height adjustment. Totally awesome.
@@NEALBABBITT Same. Now, I play with 2 other drummers live on set. So- if roc n soc made their hydraulic with 2 or 3 memory point options it would be the ultimate. But hey, I should probably shut up and design my own. It shouldn’t be that hard to accomplish- I could sell many of them guaranteed. Smart musicians know that well-designed quality is worth the $. I tend to keep great gear for its entirety. Just sayin. Drum on all. d
That´s why I use a rugged wooden chair. I built that thing myself, it has proper mortise and tennon joints and has the right height.
Good video. I started off playing sitting on my bed (so a little too low and way too far away). My first and only "drum throne" is a $90 pneumatic stool sold for work shops, and it's much sturdier than anything actually marketed as a drum throne that costs $90.
All his life the great Milford Graves used a simple folding metal chair instead of the usual drummer stool. He always played perfectly backed up and comfortable like that.
I saw Milford Graves perform a few times in my life and he didn’t need fancy anything to do what he did best. All I can say is as I listened I felt as though I were transformed. 🤎🥁
I've been using an office chair so this really hits home for me 😂.
I built my own throne maybe 30 years ago. It's rectangular, made of 1/2 inch wood with a padded seat. It's been all over the world and use it to this day.
I played a gig at a local bar sitting on top of an Amp once. The show must go on! Lol
That's so funny, I have been using a sawed off bar stool for over 40 years. Works great.
Thats interesting. Im not a drummer, Im a guitar player….but I like chairs.
Oh my, the action shot unfolding that horrid plastic chair, triggered memories from some super slidy, wooden floored school/church performances..
..how does e'ryone have that same chair
Canister style drum thrones. These were a thing in the 50's and the 60's. They look kind of odd but they are super rock solid. I lucked out on a used DW one and when I saw it kind of laughed and thought what an oddball thing that is. Then the guy in the store, who has known me for a while, suggested I sit down and try it. Immediately I felt the difference and within maybe 20 seconds I knew I was going to buy it. Plus it can carry odds and ends. I throw my pedal and stick bag and a couple of other things in there and I'm good to go. It is fantastic.
YES! Why oh why don't they bring those back? They're awesome!
@@BenReigel DW has a great one thats adjustable. It's 500.00
Buddy Rich... cannister throne.
Interesting... seems like something that would be pretty straightforward to DIY, too.
Bang on. The dw one is hands down the best throne I have ever owned.
Ive been using a bar stool I found at the Salvation Army store 30 years ago. Spin the seat to go up or down, weighs a good bit and stable as a rock.
Buddy used one of those cylindrical "trash cans" that were around since the big band era. They were intended to be a travel case for your folded stands and hardware; a cylindrical case of a given standard height with a padded lid that doubled as a throne. Ludwig still sold them in the early 80s when Buddy was endorsing Ludwig. Maybe they are still around. Buddy used one his whole career as far as I could tell. If you could play at that particular seating height (I think they only came in one height) then that would be a solid no-wobble foundation. I'm sure Buddy knew a thing or two about that concept.
I used the Roc n Soc since the 90s, but a few years ago I just could not take that swell in the crotch area anymore. It was making my junk go numb.
I looked at the stipulations on Steve Smith's contract that he used for clinics other gigs. He had it posted on his website. A lot of these gigs have what he calls Drums Du Jour, meaning they are loaner kits provided by a local music shop. On the topic of throne, he specified any good serviceable standard throne ... NO ROC N SOC. And every time I saw Steve live he used a basic bitch round seat throne. But recently on his YT channel I noticed him practicing with a heavy base thick orthopedic style seat throne that I could not tell the brand. I inquired in the comments but he did not respond.
A few years ago I picked up a Carmichael throne. These are a solid base like the Roc N Soc, but the shape and upholstery of the seat is unique, without the bicycle seat crotch protrusion. They have a spit cushion that keeps pressure off the tail bone. The also have a model of their seat that will retrofit to a Roc N Soc base, so I got one. It will also accept the Roc N Soc backrest. So basically they have a product that serves the drummer who likes the heavy base and orthopedic cushion with backrest, but hates the swell in the crotch.
I have been caught without a throne once or twice, and everybody in the whole room doesn't see why I don't just use a bar stool or any old chair. That's one of the things I hate about drumming in a band. The whole world thinks drums are just furniture. And even if you take the time to explain, they will just argue.
I know Buddy is one of the most amazing drummer in the world. Still, is posture is horrible to look at and he died of an heart attack playing. Not necessarily the best example of proper ergonomics...
@@jas_bataille Actually that is sort of making one of my points. Buddy was a monster who could sit down behind any random drums and sound great, even with bad ergonomics, and he did that all the time with some of the drum sets on the Tonight Show that were just rentals. So everybody else in the band thinks I should be able to play any random drum set because Buddy could. I hate playing somebody else's drums. For one thing, I'm 6' 2" tall and the guy who owns the drum set always seems to be 5' 7". BTW Buddy did not die of a heart attack while playing, he died in a hospital of complications after surgery.
I too went through four or more thrones. Even the cheapies were heavy and uncomfortable as most of the seats were too hard.
As i'm in my eighties I wanted something comfortable, light and foldable. I bought a new key board for my music room along with a bench seat. The seat has
height adjustable X legs with wide bases with rubber ends. So,
it is stable, super light weight, folds flat and slips into a nylon gym bag. Due my age and old hips I did add a soft cushion designed to go on my car bucket seat. The thing is super comfortable and my total investment is just list than $60
Canadian for bench, cushion and gym bag. So now my keyboard player has to sit on a regular folding chair ! 😂
I basically said the same thing then I read you reply. HAHA... It's so simple. Functional.
I use a split seat, spinal by AHEAD, and if you have lower back problem's, this is the only seat you can sit on for three hours straight without pain. Ive owned Tama seats and Ludwig most of my life. Pain.
Ron n Soc nitro gaz lift with a hugger seat is the best I ever could imagine
Lol I love it! That first brown steel chair was exactly what I had in my early teens....absolutely horrible lol. Early 20’s I learned the importance of a real throne!
0:26 the cat knows, the most important thing is a comfortable place to sit
Lol I've actually been using a stool for the past year or two. I just bought a cheap wooden Walmart stool and removed the round cushion from an old drum thrown and put the round cushion on the wooden stool. Then I marked the legs at 26 in. (I think 26 in. but it's been awhile) and cut off the excess. Works great as a drum thrown cause its sturdy and I can also put my right leg up on the leg rest when I'm playing guitar. Highly recommend using a stool!
Well done, accurate addressment of a very common issue!
Amazing advice!
It's true, I find I have to constantly retighten the stool to make it sturdy again. Sometimes after each song. A wobbly stool is devastating to your back, take care of it.
That's exactly why I'm here. I'm having to tighten the seat to the base after every song. It's also a round seat, so if I'm not sitting on it just right, I feel like I lose a lot of control with my kick drum foot.
Thank you for such a brief video! Right to the damn point!
Maybe not neccesairly throw away a drum throne, throw away a bad and wobbly drum throne. I`ve played years on a stable but very hard and stiff "throne" that somebody welded together from different pieces and it came with my first drumset. When my tailbone was aching too bad to play after 2 hours of playing I`ve decided to finally pull the trigger on a good throne and it's one of the best purchases ever.
For anyone interested I ordered a BigFoot motorcycle type throne with the a divison channel in the center, sort of like the expensive Ahead thrones. The bigFoot does just about the same job (takes prssure off of the tailbone and spine) for like a third of the money. Much reccomended.
I use a stool in the studio, with four wheels, and also a guitarist stool made by profile, with a little integrated round footrest I use to attach my stick bag. It's heavy but really stable :)
tighten throne bolts up with channel locks. zero wobble. $10 tool.🍻
Been using a cheap ikea chair with a back rest for many years. Best Ever.
This really is a great video and I found that when I went to the roc and soc throne still with three legs and yes center post but...... the biggest improvement was the back rest and now I don't have back problems . I think when playing drums the most important thing to consider is ergonomics of how your sitting where you are hitting ,is there reaching involve??, are you slouching???
And then taking steps to correct these important factors
Hi, Last week I ordered a sturdy stool from Target. I wanted to be able to be free of chair arms. The swivel seat is great for shifting while I'm doing looping with the guitar. I think your thoughts all make sense for a drummer. Thank you.
Yamaha dsm 100. No wobble at all. Solid as rock
Pork Pie drum stools are awesome!
great Ben! I'm trying my 24" guitar stool and it feels just perfect
Excellent video. I tell anyone who listens to me (when they ask my opinion!) That this very piece of advice is golden!
roc-n-soc has always seemed pretty perfect to me
Thank you for this.
Wow! Makes so much sense and have never given it any thought.
My Porkpie throne was the best investment ever!
I always wanted one of those old Slingerland
thrones that could hold some gear and they matched the finish of your drum shells.....
totally agree with everything said, I found out my bench height was relatively the same as a Cajon and I've been using a Cajon ever since. Saved my back.
Jauuu!🤘🏼
please tell me your height.
@@wurstauge8790 5'10'' or 178 cm
Loved the video.
IDK, for my back there is *no way* I could use the stool you brought into the video towards the end. Not only would my back to pissed at me, but so would my ass! I used a Roc-N-Soc for a number of years but eventually the hydraulic post failed. I was going to get a new Roc-N-Soc with the twist adjustment, but ultimately I went with a Gibraltar with the twist adjustment. It was a bit more than the Roc-N-Soc but well worth the $$! The seat itself is much more comfortable than my old Roc-N-Soc and if you want to talk about sturdiness, this thing could not be more solid!
A Premier TriLok stool is three legged and does not wobble. Good luck finding one though! They are so rare I had to make my own copy out of parts
I've used a RocNSoc with the back attachment for 15+ years. It is a miracle for the larger drummers and I've had maybe hundreds of drummers sit on it and many end up buying one. If there was a better one I'd look into it but I haven't heard of one. Great video subject, thank you!
If you get tired of that swell in the crotch on your Roc N Soc seat (like I did) look at the Carmichael throne. They make a cushion with a bolt pattern that retrofits on the Roc N Soc base and accepts the backrest.
aye true that. at home i use a $19 rolling massage stool and removed the wheels, and damn it's stable enough that i dont have that rocking body motion. the only problem is it's not super padded so i cant sit on it for more than an hour, so i just place a couple of thick floofy towels on the seat. and since it's on hydraulics, you dont need to fiddle with the locks after any height adjustments.
very interesting and food for thought. part of the problem is getting to gigs with the stool in the drum case and collapsible stools are ideal for this. I'm gonna look for something that ticks both boxes!
thanks for the vid!
Try a keyboard / piano stool
Or…. But an expensive heavy drum throne, that doesn’t wobble. 👍🏻
Thanks for the tip! I also sit at 24". When I start hitting rims and breaking sticks, it is usually because my throne has screwed it self down and I'm sitting too low. I'm liking the 24" bar stool idea. I've never liked the typical wobble point a traditional throne but I never considered how much it may impact playing.
I used a bar stool and added padding to the seat for comfort. After that part was made, I took about 1/2 inch of the bottom of the legs to adjust the height for what I needed.
Good video and I agree with you. The wobble does affect playing and your body does have to compensate for it. I purchased about 6 months ago the ahead g spinal drum throne and if I'm really honest it's pretty good and strong built. I normal dont tighten the top nut so I can turn right or left and for now this drum throne is the best one i have ever owned. It had 4 base legs and has the motorcycle shape seat. If you ever come across this throne give it a try.
Thanks for the video, some people miss what they think is the smaller things but I think you come across a good point.
Thank you so much! I will definitely give that throne a try when I cross its path. I love the concept of those split-seat bases. Seems like they'd be much more comfortable and easier on the lower back.
I have a Spinal G throne and LOVE it, after trying out a million other kinds of thrones. This one is king.
You can buy a good traditional drum throne that is comfortable and rock solid stable (the test is whether or not you can lift both feet off the floor without wobbling), but it won't be cheap. I own a Pork Pie Round which is a dream to sit on but costs around $200.
I use three stacked buckets with a foam topper. It like the old school thrones that remind me of a floor tom or conga.
1:00 super great point. Those are all things people should be considering at all times when they play.
Great video
Good topic!!!
i used a shop stool right now with wheels. worlds most frustrating thing that’s why i’m here lol
Definitely right, there was a throne I sat on that had adjustability and no wobble most comfortable I had ever been, playing but I don't remember what company made it and so the search continues🤔
I ordered a Ludwig saddle atlas pro drum Thorne.it solid love it
I make my throwns, I use a piece of 1inch plywood cut it in to a seat shape about 3 inches bigger around than my butt as I sit on it ,I draw it with a felt pen and the piece has a nose that comes between my legs then go to a wreaking yard and get the foam out of a Cadillac back seat it's the best cushion I've found I use blue foam 3/4 inch on the plywood first then put a piece of the Cadillac foam on the seat ,sit on it , if it isent comfy enough for you pot another piece of the cadi foam on top sit on it if it's good for your butt I cover it with a piece of canvas because it breathes and my butt doesn't sweet staple it to the plywood I have somebody sit on it while I staple it so it's fairly pushed down ,adjust it to your liking good luck you'll love it put the seat on any stand that will support you
I didn't know the wabble wasn't normal. God I hate my shit throne
Very interesting and true and its core! Nice!!!
The Cosco two step ladder works wonders with a little padding like two hand towels. I painted mine all black and put my stick bag on one side and attached the holder for metronome on other side. The lower step holds tambourine and brushes. The top bar is a backrest and the thing is so comfortable and secure and matches my Gibraltar throne in seating height once the Gibraltar seat cushion contraction happens. No sway, no seating movement.
WHAT??????????????????
I once had to sit on a cajon - one of the comfortable things I’d used.
The best drum throne is one that doesn’t squish your nads and make your pecker go numb. Or collapse and make you keel over backwards.
Man I play 3-4hr gigs. Not a chance do I wanna sit on a stoll. I had a normal throne. Suxed my back hurt. I switched to a throne with a back and shock absorber. Saves my back improved my posture and comfortable.
It's interesting how there is no alternative to how the seat attaches to the base regardless of make and model. I have a throne that's really good quality for the sum of it's parts but the wing nut always works loose on the seat attachment which causes it to wobble.
Try Roc n soc, no wobble!
thanks brother, so important
Good info! What is that blue sparkle kit?! I neeeed it
That's a Japanese stencil kit. They're so undervalued and sound amazing!
Of all my thrones the one that doesn't wobble is the Gibraltar 9608 which features the double clamp mechanism on both the base and the seat. Nowhere is there a double clamp on my DW. Gretsch seems to be making a good choice with Gibraltar.
My 4 legged Mapex drum throne is rock solid, perfect in every respect.
I agree to a degree. The throne is very important, and I may have been spoiled from a young age, as I had the same heavy-duty, motorcycle-style throne from almost day one. It was expensive, but although I acquired a few others over the years, I never needed another. It was heavy, comfortable, adjustable, and reliable. The problem I have with four legs is the nature of shapes. Triangles are the basis of support and strength. And for practicality’s sake, (out in “the wild”) you’ll find yourself in more situations than not where the ground isn’t always exactly smooth or level. Three legs keeps you much more stable than four. So maybe in an ideal controlled environment this is not only an option, but practical (because who wants to spend $150 on a throne), but for playing out, it’s one of those “not-so-flashy” things that one might want to consider spending a little more money on.
i play since 20 years with a DIXON drum throne 3 legs ....very stable ; nothing wrong.
Nothing beats my roc n soc with the backrest 🙃
I use an old office adjustable chair with out the back, it’s padded comfortable roll’s around best throne I’ve ever had 👍🍻
I like using 5 gallon buckets, i use 3 to get my height, works great for me+ no legs no movement $15
Man thank you so much. I’ve been playing for a while and I’m really trying to improve. I’ve noticed my balance is becoming an issue as my playing gets more precise.
Awesome Ryan! It's insane so many thrones have that lame central post. This issue definitely gets more noticeable the further we climb as players.
Mapex makes a sturdy 4 legger with backrest.
Years ago I had a cheap throne.and one night the during a gig, the center pole went right through the seat. Not good!
I use a chair and stick the 2 back legs with big weights on the legs so it doesn’t move. 🤟👌🏼👍🏻
Gibraltar 9608, hydraulic moto seat. Best throne out there. The hydraulic post is a tank, it’s not moving. Beefy feet, beefy hardware, super easy to adjust. And the seat itself is far more comfortable and shaped more ergonomically than the competition, mines been holding up for years. It’s one of those things you didn’t know how much you needed it. Treat yourself to a great throne, it’s a game changer.
I really thought this was meant to be ironic humor…until I read the comments. You guys must be a lot of fun at parties….
you are so right!!
Yeah, I wouldn't say "throw away your throne", but I would definitely advocate for buying a high-quality throne. I now own 3 Roc-N-Soc Nitro thrones which I keep at different practice and performance spaces. They are very solid, stable, and definitely far superior to the several budget drum thrones I had owned over the years from Pearl, Gibraltar, generic, etc.
Whoa they have a nitro? I'll have to check those out. I just a regular roc n soc and I love it.
Edit: nevermind, that's the kind of have.
There might be better thrones/stools/chairs out there than what I got, but I bought my drum throne about a decade and a half ago. The most expensive piece of furniture for sitting for a single person I ever bought. It was amazing the day I bought it and still is like it's brand new.
Thanks for this...
A cement block with a cushion was the only thing not breaking underneath me at gigs as a hardcore drummer back in the day...YMMV
Such a performing host must be an excellent drummer, no doubt
I mean they make super nice 4 legged drum thrones. U definitely don't need to use an old bar stool lol
Roc -n- Soc, problem solved. I've been playing on a Roc -n- Soc Nitro Throne over 20 years. Comfy, easily adjusted, super solid and stable.
You are absolutly right. I've sat on mine for up to 12 hours max. and it's like sitting on air. IMO, it's the best throne made! Who in the fuck would want to use a folding chair for a throne??
I bought a DW drum throne. Besides the 4 legs, I bought it because it could spin WITHOUT effecting the height. The spinning action was *independent* of the height adjustment. Totally awesome.
Roc-n-Soc...there is no other!